Chapter 188

 

WARNING: –M– chapter 

CHAPTER 188

 

Indus River

 

Hephaistion knew his brother liked to talk while drinking a good wine, and since he looked really upset and still angry after the argument with his wife, he indulged Nikandros asking his servants to bring one of the best amphorae he had. Another of the splendid gifts Alexander had given him, along with food, cheese, bread and olive oil. Kyros took the twins back to their mother and the lochagos was free to stay as long as he wanted.

 

For a moment Hephaistion had expected to see his brother saying good-bye to his girls, kissing them, or even checking if they were fine, but all he did was watched them go, barely nodding as they gave him a very sweet: “Joy to you, father!” when they found him at their uncle’s tent. Men did not take care of their children, that was women’s work, and since the twins were girls Nikandros almost never spent time with them. He loved them more than he was willing to admit, he was proud of them and to watch the girls smile warmed his heart as he never thought it could be possible. But he was not tender with them.

 

I don’t know why I expected otherwise, Nick is not tender with anyone and he was among the first ones who advised me to buy a slave woman to baby-sit Aki when he arrived at 3 years old –thought the commander— Not even dad stayed home taking care of us…I guess I am the only weirdo who takes care of his son…

 

It was late and soon would be dark but, since the construction of the bridge was complete, Hephaistion thought it a good idea to take a break. He liked to spend time with his brother and he was not sure for how long he would be able to do this, to enjoy his company like this. For a moment they both ate in silence, too hungry to talk, but after a while the commander put his cup aside and lifted his head to face his brother. 

 

— Problems with Vashti? –asked Hephaistion, sharing the same couch of feather stuffed cushions with the lochagos. This was a magnificent piece of furniture, almost as big as to be mistaken for a small bed, that he had appropriated it not because of the luxury but because it was ridiculous comfortable.

 

Hephaistion own tent had improved tremendously since Xsayarsa arrived that day after the battle of Issus, in part thanks to the eunuch who had chosen almost all the furniture there, but also because, as time passed, the commander became a more important man, even if he did not want to acknowledge himself as such, and his tent began to look like one of the splendid rooms of the Persian palaces, with all the comforts included and servants to tent to his needs. Needless is to say that his brother loved to visit him because of this, he loved to be treated like a King. 

 

Nikandros eat a couple of bites before answering, leaving his plate on the table at their side.

 

— You can say that –he took another sip of the outstanding wine, grateful for that moment of peace after the argument— Good wine, where did you have it hidden?

 

— In a safe place far away from you –the remark made his brother smile— What happened?

 

— Now you care about my marital life?

 

— I care about you –the commander held his gaze— And you look upset.

 

— Angry will be more appropriate –Nikandros finished his wine, liking his lips like a happy cat— Vashti is scared and wants to go back to Persia –that was something Hephaistion was not expecting.

 

— Scared of what?

 

— The men who have been disappearing in the forest, you know as well as I that not only the “lovers” got lost, at least 5 men have not returned, and the ghosts’ stories abound. She is scared of that sort of shit –answered the lochagos, playing with his empty cup, watching his own reflection over the polished silver— Vashti thinks there is Indian magic in this and I told her she is crazy –the commander raised his eyebrows. He had always known his brother was not a tender person but this bluntness surprised him— You know? I have been thinking to take a concubine –he put the cup aside. 

 

Hephaistion chuckled. 

 

— Nick, you are complaining about one woman and you want two?

 

— Hey! I get bored –said the lochagos, smirking.

 

— Bored? –the commander smiled with mischievous— Nick, you sleep with at least one different woman every week.

 

— Not always –his brother rested his back amidst the cushions, their legs were so close that Hephaistion’s creamy skin brushed him every time he moved. It was a sweet, innocent caress that was starting to send tickled through his nervous system— I don’t like common whores Phai – he took, as if by chance, one of his brother’s naked feet, resting at his side, and caressed it with his index finger— And I don’t use the ones following the army unless is necessary.

 

— Use? –the choice of words caught Hephaistion’s attention, who was trying his best to ignore Nikandros’ touch, his skin prickling in the places where his brother brushed him, as if his fingertips cast electricity every time they moved over him.

 

His touch is so different from Alex’s –he thought— Dominant even selfish, looking his own pleasure but, at the same time, not out of love. 

 

— What? Does it bother you? –Nikandros said taking his foot as if it were the delicate hand of a maiden— They are just whores, Phai.

 

— So, what have you been doing these last 2 months since we arrived? –the commander shuddered when the lochagos licked the length of his foot, tasking his skin. 

 

— What else? Sleeping with my wife, and you? Oh, yeah, I remember…–he whispered against his wet skin and Hephaistion blushed against his will— Refusing Peisandros’ attentions…

 

— That is none of your business –he answered with all dignity but his brother laughed, leaving his foot to move closer, sitting in front of him.

 

It surprised Hephaistion to find out how disappointed this made him feel, he had expected something else, wanted Nikandros to do something more, and that thought alarmed him. What was he hopping? But he got the answer from his treacherous body reacting shameless from head to toe with such a simple touch.   

 

And he knows it –thought the commander, watching that smile of self-sufficiency on his brother’s face— He knows how much I liked it.

 

— Phai, I am curious –said Nikandros, holding his gaze as if he were challenging him to lie to him, as if he wouldn’t dare to open his heart to his big brother— Why do you always deny yourself what you desire?

 

That was the strangest question someone had ever made him.

 

— What do you mean?

 

— You want to sleep with me –that was not a question, it was a statement— I know it, you don’t have to lie to me, and yet, you don’t do it. Why? Do you feel you have to punish yourself for something?

 

— Curious that you, of all people, ask me that question when it was you the one who never touched me, even if you were dying too, before I lost my memory –Hephaistion answered, not wanting to really answer that question.

 

— That was different, and you know it. I did not want to hurt you but here, tonight, you and I want to jump into to each others arms and fuck until dawn –Nikandros took his leg again, holding him from behind his bending knee, never breaking the eye contact— So, why are you resisting so much?

 

— Because you are my brother.

 

— Yes, and you also like me –said the lochagos— We have done this before and I can see –his eyes settled between his brother’s legs— That you want to do it again. What do you feel for me, Phai? I am asking you as you asked me once when you had no memory.  

 

That was a very difficult question but Hephaistion knew he had no choice but to answer. Once he had demanded his brother to be honest with him and the least he could do was the same.

 

— I like you Nick, more than I ever like anyone after Alex, and I also love you as my brother –Hephaistion left lost, what he was saying had no sense and still, that was how he felt— But, this is not right –he tried desperately to find a good reason of why he shouldn’t do this.

 

— Says who?…—Nikandros bent over, and kissed his leg, slowly, going all the way up looking for his thigh, whispering with a husky voice that was starting to crumble the commander’s inner defenses— You can’t deny you like this…—Hephaistion’s pulse quickened, feeling his brother’s lips on the inner side of his thigh, his breath hitting him at each word and sending shivers though his body— But…—the lochagos stopped, lifting his head, looking for his brother’s eyes— If you want me to stop, I will. I won’t force you to do something you don’t want to. 

 

The commander watched him, his chest heaving and his cheeks burning the same as that hardness between his legs. He wanted to do this, every fiber of his body screamed wishing to keep feeling his caresses, and his brother asked him that?

 

— You are a bastard, Nick –he said, his voice barely a whisper, making Nikandros smile shamelessly.

 

—Phai, Phai, Phai –the lochagos walked his fingers over the creamy skin of his thigh, leaving another kiss there— How could you stand 2 months without feeling a pair of hands over your body?

 

The commander held his breath when Nikandros sucked his skin and, in that moment he knew he had lost. As much as it pained him to admit it his brother was right, every time it was more and more difficult to stay away from Alexander, not only because he missed him, but also because his body ached asking to be touched.

 

— You would not…Mm…understand –moaned Hephaistion softly. 

 

— Understand what? –the lochagos lifted his eyes but not his face to see him, looking like a wild beast ready to strike.

 

— I don’t want to…hurt Alex –answered the commander.

 

And if I cross this line again, I won’t be able to come back –he thought.

 

Nikandros smirked again; it was easy for him to smile, something sometimes gave the impression that he took nothing serious, and took care of his loincloth before burying his hand between his brother’s legs. Hephaistion gasped, feeling his insatiate lust claiming to be fed, the lochagos’s rough hand brushing his most intimate part.

 

— Phai, do you really think Alexander would mind if he knows you slept with me? –that was low even for the lochagos but in those moment the commander was not thinking coherently and he could find nothing to answer back— I bet your lover would even ask for the details. Besides…—Hephaistion moaned, a musically sound that inflame Nikandros’ senses when he moved his hand up and down his length, slow, painfully slow— Who says he did not have fun with his wife?

 

— You are…a swine, Nick –the commander panted and his brother laughed, moving his hand away and making Hephaistion released the breath he did not know was holding. 

 

— And proud of it –said the lochagos. He knelt between his brother’s legs, took Hephaistion behind his knees and pulled him closer, making his military chiton to swirling around his waist, leaving him completely exposed before him. Nikandros kissed his knee— I bet you there is one place where your lover has never touched you –his brother almost purred making his hormones boiled.

 

— And who are you to know what I do with my lover? –Hephaistion tried to look defiant but the pink on his cheeks was ruining the effect.

 

— Oh, I know –Nikandros rested his brother’s leg on his shoulder and kissed the back of his knee, sucking the skin and nipping it making the commander’s body dissolved.

 

— Oh my…Nick…—he was surprised to be feeling so arouse with so little, but it was absolutely delicious, the same as when he was touched behind his ears— Mmm…

 

Hephaistion writhed languidly on the couch, one leg hanging off the edge of the couch and the other on the shoulder of his brother kneeling between his legs. A myriad of emotions hit him while moaning, sighing and licking his lower lip, savoring that intangible but very real pleasure; his dark gray eyes fixed on the ceiling of his tent while his body surrendered completely and his mind finally stopped thinking. What had to happen would happen; he would not fight anymore.

 

— I was right, or what? –asked Nikandros with arrogance against his wet skin and Hephaistion moved his leg away.

 

— Someone should…teach you humility –whispered the commander.

 

His brother crawled over him in all four and looked for his lips.

 

— And you are going to do it? –he trapped Hephaistion in a hungry kiss, looking to devour him, invading his mouth, demanding him to take everything he had to give.

 

The commander surrounded his neck, feeling dizzy, overwhelmed, needy, and brought the lochagos closer, pressing his knees at each side of him, moaning and sighing when he felt Nikandros’ weight over him. More than anything Hephaistion liked to be kissed. Their hard desires collided and that, along with the wet fight of their tongues, made both burn in maddening passion. They merged in a symphony of sighs, moans and pants but, when Hephaistion rocked his hips against the lochagos, both felt they had reached heaven.    

 

Nick is right, I don’t even know myself how I managed to wait 2 months having him so close –he thought, while his brother’s hand look for the olive-oil on the table at their side, never leaving his lips and making the heavy silver cups hit the floor, bouncing and rolling to finally rest under the couch— Maybe I didn’t do this before because I don’t want to depend that much on him, after all, he is my brother…

 

— Mmmmm…—Hephaistion let a long moan escape from his mouth when he felt Nikandros’ oily hand on his butt, looking for his entrance. He arched, panting heavily, when his brother’s fingers found their way inside— Nn…Alex… 

 

The lochagos laughed without noise.

 

— Call me that again and I…will leave you…as you are right…now… –he panted, hitting his swollen lips with each word and, as an answer, Hephaistion gave him an arrogant smile full of superiority.

 

— Nick…you wouldn’t leave now…as…excited as you are –he rocked his lips and his brother moaned— Not even…if I called you…honey bear…

 

The saddest thing was that the lochagos knew it was true. He kissed Hephaistion again, burying his fingers even more, curling them inside and feeling his brother shuddering and melting under him, moving his hips down involuntarily, looking to impale himself. Nikandros knew he would go to Hades for this but he did not care in those moments, eternal damnation looked a fair trade after having such beautiful sensual creature like his brother. 

 

The lochagos kissed his cheek, savoring his skin, feeling that gorgeous body trembling beneath him as his finger moved inside, he lifted his head and then, he froze on his spot, feeling his brother’s kisses up and down his neck, completely oblivious to what he had seen. 

 

— Nick… –Hephaistion sighed against the skin of his neck, feeling his rapid pulse against his lips— Mm…What are you waiting for?

 

Nikandros smiled, his eyes still fixed on one point at the door.

 

— Turn around –asked his brother.

 

Hephaistion was a little confused by this, but obeyed, resting his weigh on all 4, his head down and his silky hair falling at each side of his blushed face. He felt his brother’s hands on his hips, holding him possessively, his touch almost burning his oversensitive skin. It had been 2 years since the last time he felt his big brother like this, inside him, filling him as if they were the same being and his entire body trembled in anticipation. He had not realized, until now, how much he had wanted this, needed it? Maybe. It was not only deliciously but also extremely intimate.

 

What a big liar I was when I said I wouldn’t sleep with Nick again –thought the commander, remembering what he had said to Alexander about finding disturbing the fact of sleeping with someone who was so like you— Yes, in a way, it is disturbing but it is also very comfortable and once in a while won’t kill anyone…

 

Nikandros moved inside him, slowly, not wanting to hurt his brother but to make him enjoy as much as he could, and was rewarded by a lazy, long moan. The lochagos had never been so careful, looking to touch every single one of his hot spots, wanting to make his brother to melt and scream at the top of his voice. And it was working.     

 

Hephaistion’s body asked him to move, to impale himself, to feel more closely, more intimately but his brother kept him still and that made electricity ran through his entire system. He bit his lower lip with such force that could taste blood, it was a sweet torture to have Nikandros resting inside, tickling that spot that could reduce him from deathly warrior to cat in heat, but not giving him more. The commander raised his head with all the intensions to turn and teased the lochagos when his dark gray eyes found Alexander standing at the entrance.

 

Now it was his turn to freeze, watching the King as if he were a ghost. What was he doing here? Wasn’t he at the north fighting against the Indians? His last letter said it would take a week to reach him, or it could be his mind playing tricks on him? He opened his mouth to say something but instead of words only a long moan escape.

 

Nikandros thrust inside him, slowly but with surprising force, jerking his body to the front and denying him time to come out from his shock. That was the strangest thing that had ever happened to Hephaistion, in a way, it was like that morning when they almost ended sleeping together but far more…intense. He held Alexander’s gaze, unable to look at any other place, feeling his entire body burning from head to toe every time Nikandros pushed inside him, brushing him with ease thanks to the oil, and knowing how much his lover was enjoying this.

 

The King looked as if his ancestor Achilles had appeared before him wearing his entire armor with Zeus behind him, a mixture of fascination, joy, shock, surprise and arousal on his face that gave him an almost comical look. The blond had spent 5 years, 7 months and 3 days fantasizing with the scene unfolding before his uneven eyes, a dream that had haunted him since the day they took Tyre, making his blood boil, wishing the only thing that he could not get, not even with all his power.

 

For someone who did not know the meaning of “impossible”, for someone who always got what he wanted had been even painful to have his beautiful beloved so close to the only living creature that resembled him so much without been able to watch them together…like this. Alexander was obsessed with Hephaistion in every sense, he loved him with exaggeration and desired him with maddening passion. And, that night, standing just a few paces from that couch, watching his beloved’s body tensed with starling desire under his brother’s thrusts, he thought some enemy had killed him, without him noticing, and arrived to Elysian Fields, because this was too good to be true. 

 

Hephaistion watched the 2 burning red spots on his lover’s cheeks and knew exactly what was Alexander feeling, almost as if he were under the King’s skin. This was so similar to that night when he had pleasured himself under the close watch of those uneven eyes that could see the very deeps of your soul, that glaze that no one but him could hold, and this served to make the commander feel a suffocating desire that threatened to drive him crazy.

 

— Alex…Mm…—Hephaistion panted, feeling his brother lunging faster and harder, making his legs tremble and his whole body moved back and forth. He closed his eyes for a moment when Nikandros hit that place that could turn his body into jelly and opened his mouth looking for air…but air did not come, instead he felt Alexander’s lips, kissing him with a hunger and urgency that had never felt before.

 

The commander opened his eyes in absolute astonishment, as if someone had slapped him. This was a dream; it had to be! Because he could not find another explanation for that intoxicating heat that was stealing his reason. Hephaistion had never felt like this, as if every inch of his body were on fire, it was unreal what he was experimenting in those moments: the King’s tongue playing in his mouth and Nikandros thrusting inside him. And just when the commander thought his body was going to explode, his brother pulled him, forcing him to sit down on his lap.

 

Hephaistion arched beautifully for them, moaning with force, his body sliding down thanks to the oil, feeling the lochagos so deep that he could almost touch his soul. Alexander was enthralled, a spell had fallen on him and he could do nothing more than watching his beloved with lust, love and devotion. Aphrodite appearing naked in that moment would have had a hard time catching the attention of the King in that moment.

 

Alexander followed his beloved, not thinking, just reacting, letting his body moved by itself, kissing him with unsatisfied hunger, sliding his lips down through his neck and only pausing to take his commander’s chiton off, going all the way down, looking for his nipple, tasting the sweat glistering that perfect skin. Nikandros gathered all his self-control and stopped thrusting, feeling how his body protested wanting to keep moving. He surrounded his brother’s waist with both arms and remained still, feeling how both of them shuddered from head to toe. This was a torture, but a delicious one. The commander tried to move but his brother did not let him, making him moan softly. 

 

The lochagos kissed his brother’s shoulder. He never thought things would end up like this when he teased Hephaistion, he had no idea the King was coming back and when he saw the blond, standing silently at the threshold the first thing he felt was panic, but then, a closer look at his sovereign told him that Alexander wanted to keep watching. It was a kinky amusing idea and that was why he had asked the commander to turn on all four, to give the young conqueror a privilege view of what they were doing.

 

Nikandros moaned when he felt Hephaistion’s muscles contracting around him. This had begun like a good idea and had turned out to be one of the most exciting this he had done in his life.

 

Alexander drank in the addictive softness of his beloved’s skin, sliding his palms up and down his torso watching how that beautiful creature tensed every time he brushed his hard nipples, trembling, wanting more, but only getting soft caresses that did nothing but increased the fire within him, threatening to consume him until only ashes remained.

 

— Please…—Hephaistion begged but, to whom? He needed something, anything or he felt he would die. His brother kissed his neck and took his lips behind his ear, nipping and sucking the skin until a red mark showed, and moved again inside him, slowly, enjoying the feeling to have the commander at his mercy. 

 

Hephaistion embraced Alexander, looking to press his body against his lover, wanting to feel him near, and making both of them touch the sky when they arousals met. That was too much and the commander could not take this any longer, with a long moan the fire inside him was extinguished and soon, his brother found his release too. Hephaistion felt his entire body trembling, as if a warhorse had crashed him, that whirlwind of emotions had been too much, emotionally and physically, but it was not over.

 

Nikandros came out of him and the commander rested languidly with his back against his chest. Both brothers panted, their chests heaving, tired and satiated; Hephaistion looked so fragile in that moment with an air of innocent sensuality that had the King drooling. The commander did not think he was going to move anytime soon, his heart beating like a war drum and his head a turmoil; he was like a rag doll in his brother’s arms, watching Alexander through the damp locks of his hair attached to his blushed face.

 

It felt like a dream when Nikandros kissed his head with a tenderness that looked out of place, and Hephaistion did nothing to stop him when his big brother took him by the thighs, spreading him before the King, as an offering looking to please the God who dictated their destinies. Alexander’s eyes shone as they only did before a battle and approached his beloved, kissing his knee before looking for his lips, slightly separated looking for air. Hephaistion was truly a vision of beauty, lying languorously with his legs completely spread, resting in the arms of his older brother, his hair deliciously tousled, a feverish expression on his face, a worth sacrifice to the God of War.

 

The commander held his breath when the King hit his entrance, he was tired, satiated but still, he wanted to see his lover taking him, he loved to see the blond like this. And it was so simple. In a heart beat Alexander was easily in him, reaching the very depths of his being and filling him completely while Nikandros held Hephaistion’s magnificent thighs, his finger marking that creamy skin. The commander arched against his brother. Of all the times he had shared his body with Alexander he had never felt him so deep, making his very soul burn.

 

Hephaistion felt his head spinning around, he did not know where his body ended, where began Alexander’s or where was Nikandros, to feel both of them so close, his own body crushed between them, was something that easily overpowered him and not only physically. He loved them both, in different ways, but he loved them, and to have 2 of the persons he loved the most in the world so close, touching him so intimately…

 

I have to be dreaming… –thought the commander before stop thinking again.

 

The King thrust inside him, brushing every single one of his most sensitive spots, making his beloved’s body dissolve under wave after wave of that unreal pleasure. And soon Hephaistion moaned again, sighing and wriggling with such intensity that he wounded a little Nikandros’ pride. His beautiful brother had never been like this with him. The lochagos released his thighs, with one hand he took Hephaistion’s chin to kiss his lips, depriving him again of the precious air, and with the other he looked for his nipple. He brushed the bulb with insistence, making his brother moaned even harder inside his mouth and then, Alexander bent over looking for his other nipple, trapping it between his lips.

 

The commander moved his legs over the couch, sure that he was going to die in that moment because the feeling of the wet mouth of his lover on one side, sucking him and the playful fingers of Nikandros on the other, pinching him, and brushing him with his thumb, was too much for one person to bear. Soon Hephaistion found himself wishing only to feel, wishing that this moment never stop, each of his King’s thrust taking him into a blissful oblivion with only promises of pleasure that find their heaven when Alexander kissed him, as soon as his brother left him.

 

Hephaistion had been afraid to admit it but he had also wanted this. Nikandros had been wrong, this was not pure sex, for the commander it was still about love, he feared to be alone and only now he truly understood who much he needed to feel safe in his loved one’s arms.

 

Alexander finally left his lips and both gasped like drowning men. The world appeared to move around Hephaistion, this was like an emotional roller coaster; he looked for the King’s eyes but found his lover looking directly at his brother. What happened next made the commander think that maybe he was indeed dreaming or was starting to hallucinate thanks to the lack of air, because he saw in slow motion how Alexander kissed Nikandros over him.

 

Neither Lysanias or Achilles had ever looked so much like his beloved as the lochagos did in that moment, the same feverish expression on his face, the same burning desire on his eyes and that had attracted the young conqueror like a moth to the fire, too enthrall to care if he get burned. Nikandros let his King kiss him but not like a compliant obedient subject, he fought back making Alexander moaned harder as he looked to bend his lochagos to grant his wishes.     

 

Hephaistion put one hand over his brother’s thigh, and the other on the King’s shoulder, he lifted his head and kissed Alexander’s neck, licking its length until his lover finally found his release inside him…